Qualifying as a professionally qualified Architectural Technician

To qualify as an Architectural Technician you must complete and successfully pass the assessment of your Architectural Technician Professional and Occupational Performance (POP) Record. This grade of membership is not available if you are self-employed.

If you are self-employed and do not have the approved qualification/s or ten years’ relevant experience, you are required to complete the Architectural Technician POP Record, but you will not be able to use the designation TCIAT, whilst registered as a profile candidate.

A Professional and Occupational Performance Record, POP Record for short, is a statement of competence expected of a professionally qualified Architectural Technician.

The POP Record sets out the standards which you must assess your own competence against with confirmation from a qualified professional, who will act as a Supervisor.

The POP Record is broken down into units and each unit is divided into two sections;

Underpinning Knowledge — the knowledge that you need and use to perform competently; and
Performance Evidence — the demonstration through work that you have the required competence.

If you have graduated from a CIAT Accredited degree you will be exempt from completing the Underpinning Knowledge requirements (except for units 15–17). If you have graduated from a CIAT Approved/Recognised programme you may be exempt from completing certain Underpinning Knowledge requirements. Please contact the Membership Department (membership@ciat.org.uk).

Evidence for your POP Record can come from any project or work completed by you. The evidence can be backdated, however you must ensure that you are able to provide the evidence when asked to submit it at the assessment stage. Student members can begin completing the POP Record whilst studying, using evidence from work completed during the programme, the year out placement or in employment.

If you need to find a Supervisor then you can contact someone in the Directory of Registered POP Referees.

Appeals procedure for POP Panel
Candidate’s can appeal once against a POP Panel’s decision. Please download and complete the form below for further information or contact membership@ciat.org.uk